Simone Biles experienced a challenging time during the Tokyo Olympics women’s team event. She revealed in an interview that she feared the world would hate her after withdrawing due to experiencing “the twisties,” which made her lose sense of her body’s movement in the air. Biles was replaced by Jordan Chiles in the team event and decided to prioritize her mental health. She expressed feeling like the world would hate her and thought she would be banned from America, as the pressure was always to win gold.
Despite the struggles in Tokyo, Biles went on to win bronze in the balance beam but took an extended break from gymnastics afterward. She made a comeback last year and became the most decorated gymnast in history. Biles holds the record for the most medals in the Olympics and world championships, surpassing Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo. She is preparing for the Paris Olympics and is determined to add more medals to her collection. Biles compared the twisties in gymnastics to the yips in golf or baseball, highlighting the dangerous nature of the phenomenon if it leads to unsafe landings.
Biles detailed the feeling of the twisties, mentioning how the mind and body are disconnected, causing the athlete to lose control of their movements. This mental block can have serious consequences in a sport like gymnastics, where precision and focus are crucial. Despite facing challenges, Simone Biles remains determined to overcome obstacles and continue her impressive career in gymnastics.